'He was a trailblazer and a pioneer': Chris Beard pays homage to Ole Miss legend Coolidge Ball

For the first time since he was publicly introduced at the Ole Miss men's basketball program's 23rd head coach, Chris Beard spoke to the media publicly inside the SJB Pavilion on Tuesday. However, the first thing on Beard's mind was the recent passing of former Ole Miss men's basketball legend Coolidge Ball.

Ball was the very first African-American student-athlete in the history of Ole Miss sports, paving the way for many others to pursue their dreams in Oxford. On top of that, the Indianola, Mississippi native was among the best players to wear an Ole Miss basketball uniform. He ranked 11th on the Ole Miss scoring charts with 1,072 career points and fifth in career rebounds with 754. On top of that, the Rebels had a winning season in all three seasons he played from 1972-74.

He would go on to be inducted in both the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and the Ole Miss Athletics Hall of Fame, while also being named to the SEC Legends Class of 2005. A statue of Ball was erected in 2021 on the north end of the SJB Pavilion honoring his basketball career and his impact on the university.

When Beard took the podium, it was the first thing addressed.

"Coolidge Ball was not only one of the best players at the school, but one of the best people to go to this university. He was a trailblazer and a pioneer," Beard said.

"Simply stated, he’s done so much not just for Ole Miss basketball, but the Athletics department, the University, the town, this part of the state, the state. He’s just a legend. On behalf of everybody, our basketball program, I want to extend our sympathies to his wife, his children, his grandchildren. I look forward to celebrating his life."

Beard was hired as the basketball program's next head coach on back on March 13. Around that time, Ball was one of the first former members of the program he came across. Although Beard and his new staff worked tirelessly trying to build the 2023-24 roster over the course of the offseason, Ball was someone the program was wanting to be very much involved with this generation of Rebels.

"I remember it was in this building (SJB Pavilion)," Beard said. "It’s pretty cool when you get to meet the guy in the statue out front."

"He’s a legend as a human being, a pioneer and a hero. He did a lot for a lot of people. His impact is still felt today. That story is well documented... When you’re a hero and a legend like that, you're identity is always going to be the story, what he did to pave the way for this university and this state. He was also a great basketball player too, an All-SEC guy, a 1,000 point scorer and impacted winning. He’s definitely a guy you can make a movie out of his life and about his specific basketball career. He’s an all-time great. That’s important to us."

Although Ball's time on Earth is done, Beard hopes his legacy will be honored the right way.

"Like all great people, hopefully the celebration can start soon, too," Beard said.

Inside the Rebels will continue to provide offseason basketball and basketball recruiting coverage as things progress.